Screw driver



June 15, 19418. c, s. ocK I 7 2,443,339

S CREW DRIVER Filed Aug. 16, 1944 H km" ll wifila'Zock IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCREW DRIVER Carroll Stapler Blalock, Madison, Fla. Application August 16, 1944, SerialNo; 549,658

1 Claim.

This invention relates to screw drivers, one of the objects being to provide a simple, compact and efiicient tool of this character which can be operated in the same manner as a ratchet tool, so that the device can be used efiiciently at points hard to reach.

Another object is to provide a tool of this character formed of few parts, which is durable in construction, and will not readily get out of order.

A still further object is to provide a tool the bit of which will be maintained yieldingly in engagement with the screw-head or other article being operated on.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel steps in the method and certain details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the method disclosed and in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the handle portion of the screw driver, the parts being shown in the position assumed thereby during the driving of a screw.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the normal positions of the parts when the tool is not in use.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates the shank of the screw driver having the usual flattened and tapered bit 2. At a point between its ends the shank has an angular collar 3 which can be hexagonal, or any other suitable configuration. That end of the shank remote from the bit has a head 4 which is also angular and can be hexagonal or other configuration.

The handle of the tool has been indicated as 5 and may be of two-piece construction, wherein two halves are joined by screws 5. The assembled handle has a central bore 6 in which the shank l is mounted to slide and rotate. That end of the bore terminating at one end of the handle opens into an angular socket I, which should be of the same configuration as the collar 3 and proportioned to provide a snug fit for said collar. At a point between its ends the handle is provided with a chamber 8 in which the head 4 of the shank is mounted to slide. That end of the chamber nearest the socket l is preferably cylindrical, the diameter being somewhat greater than the greatest diameter of the head 4, so that when said head is seated in the cylindrical portion 9 of the chamber the handle and the shank are capable of relative rotations. Furthermore, when the head is in the cylindrical portion of the chamber the collar 3 is located outside of the socket 1. This arrangement is shown in Figure 2.

The other end of the chamber 8 is angular in cross section, the configuration corresponding with that of the head 4, so that when the head is thrust back into the angular portion IEI, it will be held against rotation relative to the handle 5. A recess II is formed in the head 4 and constitutes a seat for one end of a coiled spring l2.

This spring is seated loosely in a bore l3 extending to that end of the handle 5 remote from socket l and the outer end of this bore l3 can be closed by a plug M- of any suitable construction against which the spring I2 will bear constantly.

Normally, the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 2, the spring l2 pressing the shank I forwardly so that the angular portions 3 and 4 can turn freely relative to the handle 5. The bit 2 is placed in engagement with the screw or other object to be turned and handle 5 is then pressed longitudinally along the shank. Spring I2 is thus placed under increased compression and will hold the bit firmly in engagement with the screw. The angular portions 3 and 4 will enter the angular socket 1 and chamber portion Iii so that when the handle is turned the shank will be turned with it. By then allowing the handle to move backwardly on the shank, the angular portions on the shank will become disengaged from the angular seats provided for them so that the handle can be turned back. During this operation the spring will continue to press forwardly on the shank I. Handle 5 is then again pressed forwardly to engage the angular portions on the shank whereupon said shank can again be given a partial rotation. Thus the tool will operate like a ratchet tool although it is free from any mechanism such 'as ratchet wheels, etc. It is to be also understood that the configurations of the collar 3 and the head 4 can be varied: Instead of being hexagonal as shown it could be square or oval, or any other shape provided it is not cylindrical.

The angular collar 3 is so proportioned that a portion thereof projects beyond the handle when said collar is seated in socket 1. Thus it becomes possible to use a wrench for engaging this projecting portion to provide additional turning power.

What is claimed is:

A tool including a shank, a head at one end thereof, a collar between its ends, said collar and head each being non-circular in cross section, a handle slidably and rotatably mounted on the shank, there being seats in the handle of the same shape as, and adapted to receive, the collar and head respectively, and yielding means for holding the collar and head normally unseated, said means including a spring housed in the handle and bearing against the head, there being a space in the handle proportioned to receive the head and permit free rotation thereof when unseated, said collar being constantly positioned for engagement by a wrench or the like. CARROLL STAPLE-R BLALOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 200,747 Munroe Feb. 26, 1878 266,642 Partridge Oct. 31, 1882 294,663 Parmelee Mar. 4, 1884 908,369 Winfrey et al. Dec. 29, 1908 15 1,723,223 Weber Aug. 6, 1929 1,736,549 Salmon Nov. 19, 1929 

